How to Make Simple Stretchy Slime

I’m delighted to be back with yet another activity on behalf of GOJO Industries, the makers of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer. And just in time for Halloween, we will be making slime, which is also sometimes called gak or flubber. Making this borax-free slime requires just two basic supplies that you may already have on hand. It’s easy to mix up and you’ll definitely want to smoosh and squish it to experience a full range of oozy tactile delights.

This is the fourth activity I’m sharing through my relationship with GOJO. GOJO and I believe in the importance of creative, scientific exploration—even if that means getting a little dirty. Did you get a chance to try your hand making seed balls? Or taking the candy construction challenge? It’s never too late to click.

Are you planning a Halloween party? This slime recipe is simple enough to allow each guest to mix up her own small batch. It also makes a great candy-free goody to take home.

Also, you can seasonally adjust the DIY Faux Fireworks Suncatchers to look like spider web window clings if you substitute black and white paints for the red and blue ones.

How to Make Slime

Supplies

1/4 cup liquid starch

1/2 cup white glue

One liquid measuring cup

One medium or large mixing bowl

A spoon or fork for mixing

Optional add-ins like food coloring or glitter

Steps

Pour glue into a mixing bowl.

Add optional mix-ins.

Pour the liquid starch into the glue mixture.

Stir the mixture. It will get quickly get gloppy. It may seem like you have too much liquid, but keep stirring.

When you feel like you can’t mix any further with your spoon, finishing mixing the slime by hand. It may feel watery at first, but it will firm up as you smoosh and knead it for a minute.

Have fun!

Put Your Slime to the Test

Investigate the properties of the slime. Is it brittle or elastic? How does it feel in your hands and between your fingers? Will it bounce off of hard surfaces or stick to them? Create a list of adjectives that describe the look, feel and properties of the slime.

After making and creating with the slime, wipe off and sanitize your hands with PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes.

The slime can sit, loosely covered, on your counter for several days.

Dispose of the slime in your trash bin, rather than down your drain, so that it won’t muck up your pipes.

The Science Behind the Slime

The white glue is a polymer, that is, a long chain of molecules. When you mix it with the liquid starch, you cause a chemical reaction in which the many polymer strands link together. Further your knowledge by reading more about the chemistry of slime.

Experiment

To turn this from a science demonstration into a science experiment, mix up a few batches, changing one (and only one) variable each time. For example, use glitter glue instead of white glue, double the amount of starch or otherwise fiddle with the proportion of glue to starch. As you test each new recipe, be sure to observe, record, and discuss the different variable changes and outcomes.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

About Kim

I’m a Chicago-area mom of teen boys who is passionate about sharing ideas and resources to raise kids who love Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). I’m a blogger, vlogger, baker and maker, as well as the founder of #STEMchat. I also write about parenting gifted kids, girls in STEM and the Maker Movement. [Read More...]